Peyton Manning doesn’t need the bright lights of Monday Night Football to help prepare for this week’s game at San Diego. The Broncos quarterback said there are plenty of other reasons Monday’s game against the Chargers will be a crucial affair.

“Everybody is always excited to play in that environment, but I don’t think we need that to get motivated and as prepared as we possible can for this game,” Manning said Thursday at his weekly post-practice press conference. “It is a division game. We are coming off a loss, and you have a bye week after that. We’d like to be able to change a little of the momentum and try to put together a road win, which we haven’t gotten yet, and find a way to get a couple consecutive wins in a row.”

Bottom line: “I think there are plenty of reasons to be motivated and ready for this game,” he said.

The Broncos (2-3) could tie the Chargers (3-2) atop the AFC West Division standings with a victory at Qualcomm Stadium. Manning, who not thrown an interception in his last three games — since throwing three in the first quarter at Atlanta on Sept. 17 — said he continues to feel more comfortable in his new offense.

That is obvious, Broncos coach John Fox said. “He’s gotten a lot better. I think he’s got more comfortable. I think his teammates have gotten more comfortable with him,” Fox said of Manning. “We’re adjusting the coaches, the coaching staff, implementing things that hopefully put us in the best opportunity to be successful. And I think that will get better. it’s where we are as a football team. We’re going to get better.”

As a team, Fox said: “The reality is, we’ve made progress — just not enough yet.” But, he added: “We’re a game out of first place. San Diego is 2-0 in the division, we’re 1-0 in the division. This is a huge, pivotal game for both teams.”

Manning said this about the Chargers’ defense: “They play a lot of guys, which speaks to their depth. Which is impressive. They’re flying around. They play fast.”

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